CHGPA meeting - 24 April 8 PM Matthew & Karen's house

[mcelrah]

Election of new officers.

Discussion of old and new business INCLUDING SPECIFIC PROPOSAL FOR IMPROVING PULPIT LAUNCH.

If you don't show up and participate, you will not be eligible to complain about whatever is decided.
I realize this is a grave threat, but extraordinary times require extraordinary measures!

- Hugh

[RedBaron]

Will there be the possibility to run a powerpoint presentation? A projector that can be hooked to a computer that is?

[brianvh]

see the launch improvement thread for a list of misconceptions I had that when removed now makes me support the basic plan. Might be useful for ppt.

[mcelrah]

Janni,

If someone has or can borrow a projector, we can show PowerPoints. I hope we get enough attendance at this meeting to justify a projector - most meetings in the last couple of years could have been well served by huddling around a notebook computer screen...

- Hugh

[dbodner]

Surely one of us is smart enough to hook a laptop up to a TV. I'm not, but someone must be...

[markc]

Directions and maps for the meeting are available
in the Events Calendar.

MarkC

[Matthew]

If anyone is coming via the Carroll Ave route from the directions page, please note that the "blue-roofed gazebo" has been repainted. It's now a "red-roofed gazebo".

Matthew

[silverwings]

Is this going to be a pot luck and/or are we ordering pizza's? Marney and I could bring something.

[Matthew]

YES! The club is springing for Pizza, Beer, Wine and Soda at the meeting!!! Please RSVP to mcgraham20@hotmail.com if you will be attending the meeting and let me know what pizza toppings you like.

Matthew

[pink_albatross]

I know it's a long shot, but heck, you never know...

Is anybody coming to the meeting who lives in the vicinity of Emma Jane?
I have a cat which needs to be returned to Emma Jane tomorrow and I will be driving from Arlington to High Rock and then most likely back down south (daniel's or dickey's) to fly (pulpit doesn't look like it's going to work tomorrow). That's a lot of driving and if there's anybody who could take kitty cat to Emma Jane tomorrow I would really appreciate it and bring her to the meeting tonight.

-- ellis
p.s. if you can help out with this, please give me a call at 703.536.three two oh nine before 7:30pm. Thanks!

[brianvh]

Could we have a report on what transpired?

[mcelrah]

Bacil was elected Flight Director (Pulpit party to happen soon - May/June - to reduce conflict with High Rock party), David the Amazing One is the new VP - and a new H3!, and Dan Tuck has agreed to serve as Treasurer In Abstentia (will be moving back from North/South Carolina soon. Oh, you want to know about the Pulpit launch improvement project? This *was* the annual organizational meeting, ya know...

Oooh Kaaay - Janni gave a highly professional presentation - Powerpoints, photos, diagrams (Powerpoint-capable laptop furnished by newly arrived French PG pilot Nico). Richard, Leigh and others represented MHGA (guess standards are slipping at the checkpoints for crossing inside the Beltway). There was extended discussion, which was terminated by Dave Proctor telling Matthew to "shut the f**k up" in his own house. One could be forgiven for believing that this boorish display accounted for the lopsided vote in favor of carrying through with the proposal as amended and clarified (Janni to beef up the proposal that will be signed between the contractor and the club presidents with more detailed descriptions of work to be accomplished and diagrams), but the logic of Janni's arguments should be given credit. I emphasized that the plebescite would be taken into account by the joint Boards, but that the final decision would be their's whether to go ahead and authorize Dave Bodner as Pulpit treasurer to start writing checks to the contractor.

Janni is already circulating drafts of the beefed up proposal/contract and we will expedite a joint meeting of the CHGPA and MHGA boards to affix the Great Seal and imprimatur.

- Hugh

[brianvh]

Um...slightly more information than required.

The sacred date of the Pulpit Fly-in is being changed? I tried suggesting it once and came to the conclusion it was easier to move christmas. Has the world gone mad?

[mcelrah]

By order of the august and omnipotent joint boards of directors, even so, the Pulpit party can be changed.

Whaddayamean? You don't want to know about the new VP, Treasurer and Flight Director?! Alas, Karen and I labor on, unrelieved (couldn't find any victims, er, candidates...).

- Hugh

[Dave Proctor]

I want to apologize to the attendees of last weeks meeting for my use of profanity. I came to the meeting thinking that opinions counter to "the agenda" could be voiced without being shouted down. I was wrong, my mistake. Enjoy the kool aid, I'm outta here.

DaveP

[mcelrah]

Let the record reflect that Dave P. received an ample and respectful hearing of his opinions. He repeatedly demanded and received exclusive airtime, more than any other individual with the possible exception of Janni, who was after all the presenter. Apparently Dave was not prepared to extend the same courtesy to Matthew. This false "apology" is nullified by a bogus excuse. There is also the feeling that this was not neutral ground, that Matthew's and Karen's hospitality was violated.

The Pulpit launch improvement proposal was thoroughly and rationally discussed, both on-line and at the meeting - there was no mindless enthusiasm, but a sober discussion of the proposal in detail. I t rarely happens that there is unanimity on any issue, but I think we achieved consensus, with several people who initially objected being won over, and the plan being modified (improved) as a result of the discussion. This is the way it's supposed to work.

We can celebrate that the clubs, with thanks to Janni for his leadership and hard work, are actually achieving something for the membership.

- Hugh

[Dan T]

We are a small community and we literally entrust our lives to our friends and fellow pilots. This fact provides the glue that bonds us together in ways that those who live more mundane lives cannot possibly fully appreciate. We cannot continue to engage in what we do without providing support to each other.

It is disheartening to see legitimate differences of opinion spiral into confrontations that tear at the fabric of our subculture and threaten its continued existence. I hope that we can find a way to be civil to each other and respect the fact that reasonable people can differ. An appropriate degree of civility is essential to our survival as an an organization and our collective ability to continue to participate in this activity. May I suggest that we ask ourselves what we will do the next time we need a wire crew and the only person left on launch is the one we alienated the previous week.

I was not at the meeting and am blaming nobody for this latest flashpoint for I do not know the circumstances. I am suggesting for the sake of all of us that we resolve our differences so that we can proceed like the band of brothers and sisters that we are.

dan t